Glorify - Win - Disciple - Serve

Words of mission, words of dreams and vision, words of paradox where an ever changing world struggles with their understanding of an unchanging God.  Living words that evolve and develop just as we do in our individual journeys and in our corporate growth as His church.

First is the word SERVE*.  At Fairview, there are those who use their gifts in what the world would see as menial tasks.  Their faces are many and sometimes the hand of the servant carries not a towel, as with Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, but a hammer, or even a plunger, such as is the case of our Volunteer Maintenance crew.  Sometimes the servants carry a blood pressure cuff and literally take our blood to offer life to others.

We are in partnership with those who have been called out into the ordained ministry.  We to are called out by the act of our baptism to use whatever gifts God has given us.  Service is not contained just inside these doors.  John Wesley said, "The world is my parish" and so the servant takes his towel into a dirty world.

First time visitors to Fairview are greeted at their home the day following their visit with a large cookie, a smiling face and a word of welcome.  We have Discovery classes for those who are new the the United Methodist Church, Vacation Bible School, Scouting and programs for college students as well.

The third word is Disciple*.  We take this seriously, and offer opportunities for men, women, young people and children to discover its eternal truth.  There's Sunday School, Discipleship, His Kids, The Lift, Quarry Youth, and Preschool for children.  The setting of Bible study for youth and adults is as varied as its students.  You may find a group of young people on top of a roof, a group of men at 411 Restaurant with a cup of coffee in one hand and a Bible in the other, or women in a Bible Study Circle settled in on the couch of a friends home.  There are any number of available settings which offer you a place to draw closer to God.

And now the final word, the crown jewel of words - Glorify*.  The Bible says we have been created to worship God.  The Psalmist says, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

Here at Fairview, we express our worship and praise with whatever we have and whoever we are.  It is as unique and individual in it's expression as we are.  Some sing in choir, while others play the orchestra.  Worship is offered through dance, signing, chimes and sometimes even in the sounds of tambourines.  A group presents a visual offering through banners, while other individuals use their gift of drama to praise, and still others bow their heads in prayer ministry offering up the worship service for God's glory.

The names may vary from Hut McConnell to "Sonrize", but the message is always the same.  "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."

Glorify - Serve - Disciple - Win, pretty ambitious words for imperfect people.  Will we fail?  Sometimes.  Will we struggle?  Sometimes.  Will we get it right?  Sometimes.  But always we follow one who is perfect, who can not fail and who abides in the hearts of those who earnestly seek him.  We follow one who has given his church a dream.  The mission of Fairview is not just for now, but for generations yet to come.

On Heritage Sunday in 1997, Fairview's first Sunday School Superintendent, Hut McConnell put it this way:

"Imagine 83 years from now.  That would make it the year 2080!  We'll long since be gone.  We'll be gone to Glory land!  But what about this little baby being held in his mother's arms?  Maybe, just maybe, in that year he'll be sitting in a pew at Fairview church.  Maybe, just maybe, he'll be sitting with his children, and his grandchildren and his great grand children.  And on a spring Sunday morning when the dogwoods are in bloom and the world comes alive he'll hear a story about the congregation of Fairview church who in 1997 got done on their knees and said, "God!  Plant your dream in our souls!  Water it with our faith.  And although we may never see the harvest we'll thank you for the honor and the privilege of being found worthy and being allowed to dream your dream."